Islamophobia On The Rise

Here are three stories on Islamophobia that caught my ear over the past week. One is a commentary from Reza Aslan. The two others are from NPR's All Things Considered, and Tell Me More. They focus on the wave of Islamophobia that is taking over the Country (whipped up by Republican media), and efforts that are being taken to deal with it.

Here is a post of an old story that I highlighted a few years ago that illustrates the impact that this idiocy has on real people. It's a story told from the perspective of a Muslim family. This is what the Republican media, led by folks like Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, is doing to people. And they know exactly what they are doing. They know that their propaganda whips their followers into a frenzy...and they know what kind of risk that carries - particularly the risk of people being attacked. Yet hate mongers within the Republican media apparatus continue to do what they do. The only explanation for it is that they want to incite certain behavior from their followers.

Some are even hoping to incite Muslims with the hope of sparking some sort of crazy religious or culture war. They have even demonstrated a willingness to put U.S. troops and American citizens overseas at risk because of their stupidity and hate speech. Tea Party Republican pastor Terry Jones has even tried to wash his hands of any responsibility for harm to American soldiers as a result of his 'Burn a Quran Day' event, clearly anticipating violence (which he is hoping for). This shows just how sick some on the Right can be.

Fire At Tennessee Mosque Site Ruled an Arson

Federal officials are investigating a fire that started overnight at the site of a new Islamic center in a Nashville suburb.

Ben Goodwin of the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department confirmed to CBS Affiliate WTVF that the fire, which burned construction equipment at the future site of the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, is being ruled as arson.

Special Agent Andy Anderson of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives told CBS News that the fire destroyed one piece of construction equipment and damaged three others. Gas was poured over the equipment to start the fire, Anderson said.

The ATF, FBI and Rutherford County Sheriff's Office are conducting a joint investigation into the fire, Anderson said.

WTVF reports firefighters were alerted by a passerby who saw flames at the site. One large earth hauler was set on fire before the suspect or suspects left the scene.

The chair of the center's planning committee, Essim Fathy, said he drove to the site at around 5:30 a.m. Saturday morning after he was contacted by the sheriff's department.

"Our people and community are so worried of what else can happen," said Fathy. "They are so scared."

Read full story from CBS

This is what happens when Right wing media is allowed to spread propaganda and hate speech unimpeded.
It seems as if this Country doesn't learn from its past.....